While our province suffers a dangerous surge in COVID-19 cases, this article spreads misinformation and multiple unsourced insinuations about effects and attitudes re: vaccination. Its imbalanced lack of fact-checking undercuts vaccination, our best measure to reduce transmission of infection (6X less, with fewer symptoms), hospitalization (12X) and intensive care (28X) – statistics from Saskatchewan’s top medical officer (CTV News)
Based on one resident’s speech to the PSSD#2 board on Nov. 2nd, your report passes on even this ridiculous claim about ineffectiveness: “35 per cent of vaccinated residents in Ontario have come down with COVID-19.” Out of the roughly 14.8 million Ontarians, close to 11 million are now fully vaccinated. 35 per cent of those would mean 3.9 million cases, which is more than twice the number of cases (1.7M) in all of Canada since the pandemic began. No media should be publicizing such untruths without correction.
The actual CTV Oct. 29 story said: “In the last two weeks, 1,760 Ontarians reported breakthrough infections, accounting for roughly 35 per cent of the [province’s] total infections during this period.” Not 35 per cent of all vaccinated people but of 2 weeks of cases – a naturally higher percentage as numbers of unvaccinated decline in Ontario. Canada-wide, those vaccinated (including even partially) account for just 12 per cent of cases, many asymptomatic. But the unvaccinated dominate in hospitals and ICUs and must regret the loss of loved ones they may have infected.
Saskatchewan has Canada’s lowest provincial vaccination rate (80%), and our south central zone only 78% (CTV Nov. 10). Meanwhile the COVID crush on our health system and frontline workers has required over two dozen ICU patient transfers out of province and postponement of many hundreds of needed medical procedures for the rest of us.
The quoted resident decries “prejudice” vs. the unvaccinated, comparing it to racial and gender discrimination. But they (unless subject to rare medical exemptions) have chosen to ignore the harm their status can cause others. Even more serious variants may develop the longer we allow COVID to circulate, aided by Scott Moe’s ignoring of public health pleas from doctors, and spoken or published misinformation.
David Letts
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Moose Jaw Express and Moose Jaw Today.com do not censor a person's speech, thoughts or opinions. We do not ‘make’ the news but write it. Our reporters attend various events and meetings and write the information that was presented at those meetings.
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